Japanese punk rock trio
Eastern Youth is a Japanese punk rock trio formed in 1989 in Hokkaidō. Their sound blends many different styles, and is especially complex for a three-piece band. Their lyrics express the helplessness of Japanese youths.[1] Their influences include Fugazi, Jawbreaker, Jets to Brazil, Stiff Little Fingers and Discharge.[2]
Career
Eastern Youth was formed as Scanners in 1989 by childhood friends Hisashi Yoshino and Atsuya Tamori in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. From 1989 to 1993 they were the top Oi!/skinhead act in Japan.[citation needed] They released 3 albums, 1 single, and were on several compilation albums. The band changed their name from EASTERN YOUTH to Eastern youth, and shed the skinhead image of their past. The band moved to Tokyo in 1990. In 1995, they put out their first release on their record label, 坂本商店: (Sakamoto-Shoten) 口笛、夜更けに響 Kuchibue Yofuke-ni-Hibiku ("A Whistle Rings Late At Night"). Within the next 5 years, Eastern Youth became legendary to the Japanese indie rock scene and in 2000 they played in the United States for the first time, with At The Drive-In, largely broadening their popularity. They continued to tour America with Jimmy Eat World in 2001, and Saddle Creek band Cursive in 2006, with whom Eastern Youth split sides on 2002's 8 Teeth to Eat You EP.[3]
During the "Bottom of the World"-Tour 2015 Tomokazu Ninomiya announced that he would be leaving the band. He was replaced by Muraoka Yuka.
